Fertilizer and process of producing same.



UNTTEE TATE% PATENT @FFTQE.

CARL A. BLACK AND WILLIAM H. TEAEE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORS 0FONE- THIRD TO SAID BLACK AND TWO-THIRD S '10 JOHN R.

GOWELL, O1 TOLEDO, Q2110.

FERTILIZER AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1015.

No Drawing. Original application filed May 9, 1914, Serial No. 823,573.Divided and. this application filed July 24, 1914. Serial No. 852,865.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CARL A. BLAoK andWILLIAM H. TnAnn, citizens of the United States, and residents ofCleveland, in the county of Cuyahogaand State of Ohio, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Fertilizers and Processes ofProducing Same, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to a fertilizer or fertilizer material (which maybe mixed with other fertilizing ingredients to be ultimately used forenrichment of the soil), and to the method or process of producing thesame,this application being a division 0 our prior application whicheventuated in Patent #1,121,324, dated December 15th, 1914, and entitledFertilizer, and process of producing the same.

In our prior application above referred to we describe two varieties orspecies of a new fertilizer or fertilizer material, namely, thenon-acidulated and the acidulated varieties which we discovered could beproduced from loggerhead sponge (a natural product which is found in thesea in certain semi-tropical regions) when said sponge is suitablytreated by the novel process constituting a part of our invention. Thesubject matter of the present application is the acidulated variety andthe process by which it is produced.

Before describing the fertilizer and the process constituting thesubject matter of this application, it may be well to briefly stateherein some of the characteristics of logger-head sponge in its naturalstate, and to briefly describe the non-acidulated fertilizer which weproduced therefrom, and the manner in which the sponge is treated toproduce the same, although for a complete understanding of the abovereference is had to our prior application. Loggerhead sponge in itsnatural state decomposes very rapidly, giving off offensive odors, and

has enerall' been re arded rior to our invention, as very undesirableand, in many respects, detrimental to health and to the commercialsponge industry. To produce the non-acidulated variety, this loggerheadsponge is, after removal from the sea, dried and granulated, and, ifnecessary to forestall decomposition prior to the regular treatment, itis treated with suitable antiseptic chemicals. The sponge is then driedto a predetermined moisture content, preferably of not more than six percent, and it is granulated preferably to a definite state offineness,that is to a definite admixture of fines and coarse. Thisfertilizer possesses an average composition which, on analysis, showssubstantially the following results: organic matter 40% to nitrogen asammonia, NH 6% to 7%, calcium carbonate, CaCO 4% to 6%, phosphate ofcalcium Ca (PO 3 1% to 2%, potash in organic combination, 1/2% to 6%.

For the production of the acidulated variety we may use as a basiseither non-acidulated variety, or, we may and preferably do use the rawsponge in its natural state, as it is unnecessary for the purpose of theacidulated variety either that it be first reduced or dried to adefinite or particular moisture content, or be ground to a definitegrade of fineness or admixture of fines and coarse. However, the spongeshould be dried to the extent that it is apparently dry to the touch,and should be crushed or ground down to afairly fine powder. The dryingmay be done by applying the heat directly to the sponge shortly afterits removal from the sea, or, if the wet sponge be given a pre liminarytreatment of suitable antiseptic chemical, such as sulfurous acid gas orthe gas produced from burning sulfur or sulfids, so as to forestallpremature decomposition, it may then be sun dried in suitable racks orreceptacles. To then convert the dried and ground sponge to theacidulat'ed fertilizer, it is thoroughly mixed with sulfuric acid in theproportion of approximately 90% dried sponge to approximately 10%sulfuric acid. This is preferably done in a lead or wooden chamber,either by allowing the acid to distribute itself through the mass ofsponge, or the latter may be stirred, if desired, to hasten the action.

The principal object of this treatment is to break up the cellularstructure of the sponge, converting it into a substance wherein theelements of plant nutrition can be readily dissolved by water, thusenabling the plant to immediately avail itself of such elements withoutwaiting for the process of decay in the soil.

The action of the acid on the celludose is to abstract hydrogen andoxygen from the same, forming water, and setting free carbon. Inasmuchas the valuable plant foods 1/2% to 1%, moisture summary, it may bestated the non-acidulated variety is less expensive or the elements ofplant nutrition in the fertilizer, are surrounded, enveloped andintimately associated with this cellulose, it is a matter ofconsiderable importance to get it out of the way. By the action of theacid on the nitrogenous organic matter, the same is converted toammonium sulfate, (NHQ SO which is very soluble and is readilyassimilated by the plant. Furthermore, by the action of the acid, thecalcium carbonate is converted into calcium sulfate CaSO the calciumphosphate is converted into the acid calcium phosphate Qm the potassiuminorganic combination is converted to sulfate of potassium K SO and thesilicates are decomposed, producing products wherein the valuableelements are in a far more soluble condition than before the treatment.

In conclusion, therefore, and by way of that, although than theacidulated variety, the latter contains elements of plant nutritionwhich are more readily absorbed by the living plant than the former.Additionally, the acidulate'd variety, like the non-acidulated, can beshipped and storedwithout danger of decomposition or spontaneouscombustion.

Having described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A fertilizer or fertilizer material, comprising loggerhead spongetreated with an acid capable of disintegrating cellulose.

2. A fertilizer or fertilizer material, comprising loggerhead spongetreated with sulfuric acid.

3. A fertilizer or fertilizer material, comprising loggerhead spongedried and treated with an acid capable of disintegrating cellulose.

4:- A fertilizer or fertilizer material, comprising loggerhead spongegranulated and treated with an acid capable of disintegrating cellulose.7

5. A fertilizer or fertilizer material, comprising loggerhead spongedried, granulated and treated with an acid capable of disintegratingcellulose.

6. A fertilizer or fertilizer material, comprising driedand groundloggerhead sponge, mixed with sulfuric acid in the proportion ofsubstantially 90 per cent. sponge to substantially 10 per cent. acid.

and phosphoric acid H PO 7. The

process of producing a fertilizer or V which comprises treating thesponge .with an acid capable of disintegrating cellulose.

8. The process of producing a fertilizer or fertilizer material fromloggerhead sponge, which comprises drying the sponge and treating thesame with an acid capable of disintegrating cellulose.

9. The process of producing a fertilizer or fertilizer material, whichcomprises granu; lating loggerhead sponge and treating the same with anacid capable of disintegrating cellulose.

10. The process of producing a fertilizer or fertilizer material, whichcomprises granulating loggerhead sponge and treating the same withsulfuric acid.

11. The process of producing a fertilizer or fertilizer material, whichcomprises drying and grinding loggerhead sponge and treating the driedand ground product with an acid capable of disintegrating cellulose.

12. The process of producing a fertilizer or fertilizer material, whichcomprises drying and grinding loggerhead sponge and mixing the driedsulfuric acid.

13. The process of producing acommercial fertilizer from loggerheadsponge which conprises treating the sponge with sulfuric aci 14. Theprocess of producing a fertilizer or fertilizer material, whichcomprises treating loggerhead sponge so as to convert nitrogenous mattercontained "therein to ammonium sulfate. 7 V

15. The process of producing a fertilizer or fertilizer material, whichcomprises treating logge head sponge so as to convert caland groundproduct with clum phosphate contained therein to acid nesses.

CARL A. BLACK. 7 WILLIAM H. TEARE. Witnesses:

A. F. KWIs, L. I. PoR'rER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0.

